Frank OrdoÅez / The Post-Standard Rick Jackson warms up before the start of the Cincinnati game Saturday at the Carrier Dome.

With its leading scorer in the locker room with an injury, Syracuse scored the first 16 points to start the second half to fuel a 67-52 victory over No. 25 Cincinnati on Saturday afternoon at the Carrier Dome.

Kris Joseph hit his head on the court on a drive to the basket late in the first half, but the 4th-ranked Orange didn’t seem to miss the 6-7 junior forward as it blew out the Bearcats.

Syracuse made its game-clinching run while forcing Cincinnati to miss 18 of its first 20 field goal attempts to start the second half.

Syracuse improved its record to 18-0 overall and 5-0 in the Big East. Cincinnati fell to 16-
2 for the year and 3-2 in the conference. The 18-0 start marks the second-longest season-opening win streak in Syracuse history. The 1999-2000 team won its first 19 games.

Syracuse will face No. 5 Pittsburgh at the Petersen Events Center on Monday.

Syracuse vs. Cincinnati Basketball: Pinstripe Trophy Comes to the DomeSyracuse University basketball fans were invited to get a closeup view and have their photo taken with the Pinstripe Bowl trophy, won by the SU football team two weeks ago in their NYC bowl game, prior to the Orange's Big East basketball game against Cincinnati at the Carrier Dome on Saturday.

Syracuse held Cincinnati to a season-low 52 points on 30 percent field goal shooting. Cincinnati’s previous low came in a 54-41 win over Savannah State on Nov. 24.

Syracuse jumped out to an 18-3 lead just eight minutes into the game. The Orange defense forced Cincinnati to miss 10 of its first 11 shots. The Bearcats missed all four of its 3-point attempts while Syracuse roared out to the early 15-point lead.

But as cold as Cincinnati started the game, the Bearcats soon were just as hot.
The Bearcats made nine of their next 15 shots from 3-point range to rally to within 35-31 at halftime.

Joseph suffered his head injury on a drive to the basket with 6:27 left in the first half. He walked off the court under his own power, while holding his head. He remained in the SU locker room for the rest of the game.